 44 animals seized from home
Seguin, TX (US)Date: Aug 4, 2005
County: Guadalupe
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Abuser/Suspect: Suzanne Hoog Watson
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County Attorney Elizabeth Murray-Kolb and her investigator Frank Allenger went into Watson�s home in the 2200 block of Still Meadow Road on Aug. 4, 2005 and seized animals and other property based on an allegation of animal cruelty.
�This case has kept me awake at night,� attorney Greg Simmons said. �If they did this to her, they can do this to anybody.� Murray-Kolb said both she and Allenger were at the home, but did not go inside. Murray-Kolb, who called the whole situation sad, said there are no winners in a case like this.
�We at the county attorney�s office are charged with the responsibility of upholding the law, and that includes the law against cruelty to animals, and that was certainly the case here,� she said. �Neither this office, nor I will be threatened, bullied or intimidated into either taking action or not taking action that we feel appropriate and necessary.�
According to documents obtained from county records, a warrant for seizure was issued by Justice of the Peace Larry Morawietz on Aug. 5, 2005, the day after the seizure was allegedly made from Watson�s home.
�My understanding was that everyone knew this was happening on Aug. 4, 2005,� said Assistant County Attorney Bob Etlinger. �They contacted the judge who gave verbal authorization,� Etlinger said. �They wanted to specifically identify the animals, as opposed to all the animals located at that address, and it might have run into the next day to get that prepared.�
Murray-Kolb said regardless of whether there was a warrant in hand or not, the circumstances were exigent. �If it takes until the next day to pick up a warrant or a judge puts the wrong date on a warrant really is not germane,� Murray-Kolb said. �There is no violation.�
The case was turned over to Texas Ranger Dewayne Goll, who is conducting an investigation with the Guadalupe County District Attorney�s Office into allegations of civil rights violations by Murray-Kolb�s office. If evidence is found that civil violations were committed, the case could be filed in federal court.
Simmons said 44 animals were seized along with 20 metal cages, 18 fans, four large crates and eight cat trees. Watson appeared in Morawietz court Aug. 17, 2005, to face charges of cruelty to animals, but pled guilty to a lesser charge as part of a plea bargain, Murray-Kolb said.
Of the 44 animals seized, nine were returned to Watson, while the rest have either been euthanized or adopted out to other homes. Watson was ordered to allow periodic inspections of her home to ensure the animals were living in clean conditions and she was not accumulating more pets. She has also been ordered to pay $100 per month toward $8,895 restitution and to pay for the boarding and euthanization of some of the animals.
�I�ve never heard of anything like this,� Simmons said. �This situation has placed Suzanne in fear of further intrusions and entry into her home without regard or whether or not she is there and whether or not she is committing any criminal offense.�
Simmons sent documents to Morawietz, Murray-Kolb and members of the commissioners court that outlined the allegations and refer to the alleged events as �extremely disconcerting and frightening.�
County Commissioner Cesareo Guadarrama, who received a copy of the letter and court documents, said he is interested to see how the investigation turns out but feels the county could be facing a lawsuit. �My feeling is that this will be pursued,� Guadarrama said. �I see litigation coming.� Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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